The VC men's basketball team had a 19-point lead early in the second half but could not hold off a San Bernardino Valley rally over the final 10 minutes of play in their 82-76 setback to the Wolverines on the final day of the Riverside Tournament. Caleb Gilbert led four Pirate players in double-figures with 19 points and Kai Johnson and Blake Berry each netted 15. Mykayle McCoy recorded 13 points off the bench in the effort.
The Pirates had an outstanding first half shooting 70 percent from the floor (14-20), 70 percent from three (7-10) and 92 percent from the foul line (11-12).
Berry answered the Wolverines' opening score with a pair of three's and Johnson also hit from range for the early 9-2 edge three minutes into the contest. Johnson followed with a deuce, Gilbert scored a lay-up off a pass by Derrick Young and Berry scored another 3-ball as Ventura completed a 16-0 run with 14:59 left in the first half. Beckham Rutherford connected on a jumper and Gilbert hit a pair of free throws as VC extended the advantage to 25-10 midway through the period.
Berry made his fifth 3-pointer without a miss with 3:10 left in the first half beginning a 7-0 Pirate run. McCoy made a couple of charity shots and Gilbert hit two from the line for a 44-25 margin a minute later. VC led 46-30 at halftime.
Gilbert began the second half with a three to stretch the Pirate lead back to 19 point, 49-30, and made another shot from range to maintain an 18-point edge a minute later. SBVC then went on a 9-0 run to close the gap before Johnson dropped a dime to Gilbert for a lay-up to end the skid. Reese Widerburg made a triple at the 14:01 mark for a 61-47 Pirate advantage preceding a 12-0 Wolverine run over the next four-plus minutes of play.
Landreau Tate made two free throws and Gilbert converted a Young pass into a dunk to temporarily hold off San Bernardino, 65-59, before the Wolverines outscored Ventura 9-3 to tie the game at 68 with 4:51 remaining. two charity shots by McCoy and a bucket by Young put the Pirates back ahead by two, but SBVC answered each time, moving ahead 75-72 with 2:38 on the clock. Cater Alexander hit two foul shots with 24 seconds left to pull Ventura to within 79-76, but the Pirates were unable to climb back ahead before the final horn.
Berry added five assists to his stat line and Johnson dropped four dimes.
VC next heads to LA Valley for a game on Wednesday Dec.13 at 6:00 pm.